The brash British banger today issued an apology for his post-fight celebration at UFC 127, telling The Telegraph that he was "out of line" for spitting at (not on) Jorge Rivera's corner team after his emotional second round technical knockout victory on Feb 27, 2011, in Sydney, Australia.

"The Count," who flew into a rage after finishing "El Conquistador," admits that the pre-fight smack talk and steady drumbeat of insulting parody videos that "crossed the line" ultimately got the best of him on fight night.

He regrets his actions and chalks it up to a lesson learned.

Check out Bisping's apology after the jump:

Quote:

"I was out of order. As a father, as a mixed martial artist, or possibly even as a role model, it’s not a way I should be behaving. It’s not how a mixed martial artist should be acting; not how any many should be acting. Of course, I do regret it, and I owe Dana [White, UFC CEO], and the UFC an apology and I won’t be acting like that again.... I went into the fight very angry. I let it get the better of me after the fight. I want to make it clear – I never spat on his cornerman. I spat on the floor to let him know what I thought of him…I said some words…I’m not even sure what the words were now, that was immediately after the fight had finished. After that, I instantly apologized. It was out of order."

UFC President Dana White was clearly upset with the situation, witholding Bisping's fight bonus as punishment. The exact amount of that bonus is unknown even to Bisping, who revealed that he "never expect the bonuses, anyway."

In the immediate wake of "SpitGate," several 185-pound fighters, including Chael Sonnen and Vitor Belfort, openly campaigned for the opportunity to fight Bisping next and put him in his place.

And if Sonnen -- perhaps the most calculating and diabolical trash talker in the sport today -- is granted his wish, Bisping promises to keep his emotions in check.

Here's a snip:

Quote:

"If it is to be Chael Sonnen, he does trash talk a lot.... If it was to be him next, I’d look forward to the verbal sparring, but I’m sure he wouldn’t go to the depths of offence that this guy [Rivera] did. It was out of order, and if anyone went to those lengths again, I would simply not rise to it. I’m ashamed of myself and I have apologized, he [Rivera] should be man enough to do the same.... I’m not perfect, I still make mistakes, I’m human and I let things get the better of me as I did on night. Of course, lesson learned. If he tries to go down that line, I’ve got previous experience and I will not let it get to me quite as much."

Easier said than done?

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Never spat at the corner man??? going to look for the Gif now...

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It is because you chose to get on the mat that makes you the winner. Think about how many people are not on that mat right now. - Luis Sucuri Togno